25-Year-Old Defector Idol Writes 'New History of K-POP' on American Stage... 'Touching Story' in the Spotlight

Two young men who escaped from North Korea and settled in South Korea are gaining worldwide attention as they debut as K-POP idols. The members of the five-member boy group 1VERSE are Seok (25) and Hyuk (25).

After settling in South Korea through China during their teenage years, they were discovered by the new label 'Singing Beetle' in 2022 and recently made their official debut after two and a half years of rigorous trainee life. In particular, their first solo performance in the United States scheduled for this month is being evaluated by industry experts as a 'bold challenge.'

Seok expressed, 'I dreamed a new dream through K-POP,' saying, 'It's something I could never have imagined in North Korea, but I feel like I was reborn in South Korea.' Hyuk also stated, 'If our story can give courage to those who have not yet dreamed, that in itself is meaningful.'

1VERSE is composed of global members including Korean-American Kenny, Japanese Aito, and Nathan from Arkansas, showcasing the diversity of K-POP. Their TikTok followers have reached 700,000, and the total number of likes has exceeded 22 million.

Professor Lee Kyu-tae of George Mason University analyzed, 'In K-POP, where storytelling is important, their narrative can be a significant strength,' and noted, 'This is a case that shows that small agencies also have opportunities to secure overseas fans.'

1VERSE is preparing for full-scale overseas activities, dreaming of collaborations with global artists like Post Malone and Charlie Puth.